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A myth is generally an old story or a perspective of an individual or a group that may or may not be true. Generally myths are old, man made without having any valid support.
There are many myths related to career and job opportunities too. These myths have been exposed by counselors and psychologists to give the students and parents a realistic picture. Discussed below are some Myths & realities that can help students, and parents in developing a rational, logical & realistic approach during career planning process.
Myth #1: I should be on the same track as my friends.
Reality: Friends are always there with you. But that does not mean you have to follow where your friends go. You must evaluate all career opportunities, find the most suitable ones for you and not what is good because its good for your friends. There will be pressure from your friends but you must have control over your decision. Its your future.
Myth # 2: I should choose a career based on my strongest skills.
Reality: Skills definitely matter a lot when deciding on what career to select. But considering only skills and not taking into account your personality type, your interests, likes and dislikes and what satisfaction you wish to derive is not right. Just because you are good at something does not mean that you will enjoy doing that activity for a living. Also, relying on your current skills does not take into account the skills you may need to acquire to excel in your job.
Myth #3: There is one perfect career / job for me.
Reality: There is no one perfect career or job for an individual. In-fact one individual has the capacity to do several jobs and what he likes and enjoys, he does it again and again. Hence one must always keep the options open because the future is unpredictable and change in attitude, likes and dislikes can happened in course of time. Never marry a career! Always keep your options open to explore the world.
Myth #4: Science is only for high scoring students, Arts is for less scoring students and Commerce is for somebody who is not so good and not so bad.
Reality: All fields are equal. Each field has great and promising careers. Academic marks should not be the only criteria to select a field. We are all well aware of the education system which has laid more emphasis on memory skills and less on life skills. Careers are shaped by a person’s skills, abilities, interests, personality and not by academic marks only.
Myth #5: Once I enter my chosen career or profession, I will have to work in that career forever or at least until I retire.
Reality: On an average, a person will change jobs 7-10 times in his/her lifetime. People change jobs for many reasons: change of interest, advancement, better opportunities, boredom, challenge, to use new skills gained in an old job, to do new things in new ways, to work in new places, to expand skills, to meet new people, to keep with your aspirations and vision of life. Hence no person is sure that he will end where he started.
Myth #6: If I wait for a long duration, luck will eventually bring me to the right career.
Reality: A proper career plan is the launch pad for a promising and satisfying career. You simply cannot find your perfect career or occupation by chance. Successful people in this world have always planned their careers, work hard to achieve their goals. In the process lady luck followed them rewarding their hard work & smart work. Look around you - those people who are unhappy in their careers most likely just “fell into” something without careful planning.
Myth #7: The best career for me is “xyz” because there is a great demand for trained and qualified people in this industry.
Reality: The job market fluctuates constantly. Employment opportunities can change dramatically as a function of economic conditions, advances in technology and manpower supply. The job trends must be considered and used cautiously and not as the only factor for choosing a career.
Myth#8: Somewhere there is a test, there is an expert who can tell me what to do with the rest of my life.
Reality: There are more than 40,000 occupations from which you can choose in the world today. Most tests, especially the interest inventories use only 100 to 200 as sample occupations. These tests can assess only selected aspects of you and your interests thus giving you good, but limited information. Tests and books can provide important self or career information, but they are only one part of the complex system of career exploration. The “expert” or career counselor is another important “one-part” of the process. He or she can help to guide you through the choice process, providing valuable information or helping you to focus on important pieces. But it is you and your involvement in the career exploration process that will tell you what career to enter.
Myth #9: Let me acquire the highest education, I will get the best job, work with the best people.
Reality: Purpose of education is primarily to acquire knowledge. Getting a good degree does not mean you will get your dream job. A promising career is a combination of your education, life skills, personality, ability and your vision for life. Hence acquiring even a doctorate Ph.D will never help unless you know, what you are and understand the world around you.
Any queries, send to
CIGMA Foundation / MSWT
# 214, United School Building,
Ilyasnagar, J.P.Nagar Post
Bangalore - 560078.
Website: www.cigma.in
Email: careerguidance@cigma.in
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